Sweeeping Changes Clean New York Mess

Infusion Of Youth Gives Mets Optimism

April 25, 1995|By DAVE JOSEPH Staff Writer

WEST PALM BEACH - — There are some people who just won't let the past die.

Take David Letterman.

Over the past few years, as the Mets have fallen to the bottom of the standings, they became Letterman's favorite joke, making more appearances on the Late Show's top-10 list than Richard Lewis as a guest.

And, let's face it, the Mets provided plenty of material.

There was Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry's fall from grace, Bret Saberhagen's sudden fascination with bleach and Vince Coleman's brush with pyrotechnics.

Stupid human tricks?

Letterman opened his show one night last year by saying there was good news and bad news. The bad news was the baseball strike. The good news was that the Mets had made up two games in the standings. Just last week, Letterman awoke the past again by remarking that the first 5,000 people at this week's Mets opener would receive police sketches of Gooden.

For all that has happened to the Mets the past few years, for all the knocks and punches they've taken - deservedly or not - they are slowly climbing out from beneath the abyss. Finally, there is reason for optimism at Shea Stadium.

"If we stay healthy," said manager Dallas Green, "if we work hard, I believe we can compete. There is talent here."

The reason for Green's optimism, despite last season's fourth consecutive sub-.500 finish (55-58), is simple: The Mets improved 201/2 games last year over the nightmare that was 1993, and are developing a core of good young players who could be ready to peak. One of those is shortstop Jose Vizcaino.

Vizcaino struggled last year as the Mets' leadoff man, hitting just .256 with only one stolen base. But with Brett Butler the Mets' new leadoff man, Vizcaino will bat second, a move he is delighted with.

"It was OK hitting in the leadoff spot, but I feel like I'm home now," said Vizcaino, 27, who hit .287 in 1993 while batting second with the Cubs. "Second is a lot better for me because I can put the ball in play."

The Mets are also hoping for big years from catcher Todd Hundley, first baseman Rico Brogna and second baseman Jeff Kent.

The son of former Cubs catcher, Randy Hundley, Todd, just 25, had a career-high 16 home runs and 42 RBI last year while batting .237. And, while Hundley continued blossoming into a strong defensive catcher, hitting coach Tom McCraw believes his average should improve, too.

Kent, 27, enters the season after batting a career-high .292 last season, and batting .385 with men in scoring positions. And if Brogna can duplicate some of his magic from last year (.351, seven home runs, 11 doubles in 35 starts), the top of the Mets' batting order could read Butler, Vizcaino, Brogna, Bobby Bonilla and Kent.

The keys, of course, could be starting pitching and Bonilla.

After Saberhagen and Bobby Jones, who combined for 26 of the Mets' 55 victories, last year, the starting rotation gets a little thin. For the Mets to compete, they must get help from veteran Pete Harnisch or youngsters such as Jason Jacome, Dave Mlicki and Bill Pulsipher.

Then there's Bonilla. Defensively, he committed a league-high 18 errors at third base last year. Offensively, however, he remained the Mets' biggest threat, hitting .290 with 20 homers and 67 RBI. But if Brogna and Kent perform well at the plate, Bonilla's numbers are sure to rise.

Optimism surrounds the Mets. Under President Fred Wilpon and General Manager Joe McIlvaine, the Mets are performing better on and off the field. The unfortunate incidents that occurred the past few years "are ancient history," Green said. "Why even bring them up?''

If the Mets continue to do well, they could become one of the most improved teams in baseball. If they don't, it's another year of material for Letterman and the Late Show.